Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Service (VR&E)
Army Reserve: Drilling
Benefit Fact Sheet
Summary:
The Department of Veterans Affairs facilitates the Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) Program. The VR&E Program provides the services and assistance needed to enable Veterans with service-connected disabilities to achieve maximum independence in daily living and to the maximum extent feasible to prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment. Veterans with a disability rating and an employment handicap may be entitled to VR&E services as authorized by Congress under Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 31.
Eligibility:
Army Reserve Soldiers on drill status may be entitled to vocational rehabilitation services based on the following conditions:
Basic Entitlement for veterans:
- Have received, or will receive, a discharge that is other than dishonorable
- Have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10%, or a memorandum rating of 20% or more from the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA)
- Apply for Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) VetSuccess services
Period of Eligibility:
- The rehabilitation program must be afforded to a Veteran within twelve years from the latter of these dates:
- Date of separation from federal active services OR
- Date first notified of a service-connected disability rating
Benefit Highlights:
VR&E Program: A Veteran who has an employment handicap and is found eligible for Chapter 31 is entitled to vocational rehabilitation services. The VR&E Program helps Veterans who have service-connected disabilities to become employed and to maintain suitable employment. In some cases the VR&E program helps achieve independent living goals. VR&E services include career counseling and planning, identifying feasible career or independent living goals, job placement assistance and training, subsistence allowance, work-adjustment counseling, family services, and further treatment and care for employment rehabilitation.
Evaluation: After eligibility is established, the Soldier attends a Comprehensive Evaluation where a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor conducts a comprehensive evaluation which includes:
- An assessment of the Veteran's interests, aptitudes, and abilities
- An assessment of whether service connected disabilities impair the Veteran's ability to find and / or hold a job using the occupational skills he or she has already developed
- Vocational exploration and goal development leading to employment and / or maximum independence at home and in the Veteran's community
Allowances: Veterans receive a monthly allowance while participating in the rehabilitation program. Additionally, a Veteran may require additional education and training to become employable. In these cases Veterans receive a monthly subsistence allowance while in training. This subsistence allowance is based on the rate of training attendance (full-time or part-time), the number of dependents, and the type of training.
After the Determination:
The Veteran and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) work together to:
- Determine transferable skills, aptitudes, and interests
- Identify viable employment and / or independent living services options
- Explore labor market and wage information
- Identify physical demands and other job characteristics
- Narrow vocational options to identify a suitable employment goal
- Select a VR&E VetSuccess program track leading to an employment or independent living goal
- Investigate training requirements
- Identify resources needed to achieve rehabilitation
- Develop an individualized rehabilitation plan to achieve the identified employment and / or independent living goals
Specialized Services and Assistance: Specialized employment services will also be provided by the Case Manager, Employment Specialist, and/or Disabled Veterans Outreach Placement Coordinator (DVOP). These services include:
- Comprehensive rehabilitation evaluation to determine abilities, skills, and interests for employment
- Vocational counseling and rehabilitation planning for employment services
- Employment services such as job-training, job-seeking skills, resume development, and other work readiness assistance
- Assistance finding and keeping a job, including the use of special employer incentives and job accommodations
- On the Job Training (OJT), apprenticeships, and non-paid work experiences
- Post-secondary training at a college, vocational, technical or business school
- Supportive rehabilitation services including case management, counseling, and medical referrals
- Independent living services for Veterans unable to work due to the severity of their disabilities
Additional Information:
For more information, please see the Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Services webpage maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs:
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre
VetSuccess Home page, maintained by the Department of Veteran Affairs:
http://vetsuccess.gov/
For information on government civil service jobs, visit:
http://www.cpol.army.mil/
Online Resource for Americans with Disabilities:
https://www.disability.gov/
Document Review Date: 23 May 2012